Therapeutic apparatus for bathtub use



March 15, W66 .1. H. EVERSTON THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS FOR BATHTUB USEFiled July 5, 1963 IMER CONTRQLLED MOTOR BLOW INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,240,208 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS FOR BATHTUB USEJoseph H. Everston, 1425 Via Soledad, Palm Springs, Calif. Filed July 3,1963, Ser. No. 292,572 18 Claims. (Cl. 128-66) The present applicationis a continuationin-part of my application Serial No. 238,221, filedNovember 16, 1962 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus for bathtub use.

The invention seeks to make available relatively lowexpense equipmentwhich will enable the average home owner to obtain in his own bathtubthe therapeutic advantages of air and water in motion. A panel uponwhich the user can sit or lie is introduced into the tub and desirablyprovided with means for anchoring it, notwithstanding the buoyancyproduced by the introduction of air into passages with which the panelis provided.

In a preferred embodmient, this panel includes similar top and bottomwalls having complementary spacing means for separating the walls fromeach other and registering channels to form interior passages, the topwall having ports of any desired form opening from the passages for theescape of air. The panel may have bosses upon which the user can beseated. Desirably the ports for the escape of air are located in thesides of these bosses to open within the respective channels. Means isprovided for delivering air under pressure to the passages in theinterior of the panel.

The upper and lower panel walls have registering marginal flanges eithercemented together or otherwise connected. These flanges may be, anddesirably are, embraced by a binding which is substantially continuousabout the panel.

In one embodiment, clips are used for connecting the elements of thepanel so that the upper and lower panel walls are separable with ease tofacilitate cleaning. The motor blower which supplies air to the passageswithin the panel may be permanently mounted on the wall or disposed in acase which the user may place on the floor near the tub in which thepanel is used. In either event, it is preferred that the motor becontrolled by a timer, making it unnecessary for the user to manipulatea switch to terminate the operation of the device. In the preferredconstruction, all of the electrical connections are completely enclosedbeneath a partition on which the length of hose required to reach thepanel can be stored when the panel is not in use. No control is requiredto pass through this partition excepting only the setting knob for thetimer which starts the motor blower and determines the period ofoperation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view diagrammatically showing my therapeutic apparatusinstalled in a conventional bathtub of the alcove type, the wall formingthe alcove being illustrated in section, the tub and therapeuticapparatus being shown in plan and the timer controlled motor blower unitbeing shown in perspective.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective illustrating the perforatedpanel per se.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in cross section on theline 33 of FIG. 2 showing the preferred connection between the marginalflanges of the upper and lower wall portions of the panel of FIG. 2.

3,249,208 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 FIG. 4 is a view similer to FIG. 3showing the clip used to provide a detachable connection between theupper and lower walls.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective showing a modifiedfastener embodiment substituted for the fastener illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view taken in section on the line 6--6 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of a case for the timer controlledmotor blower.

The bathtub 8 is generally conventional, being illus trated merely toexemplify the use of the panel. This tub is mounted in an alcove 10provided by the building wall 12. The invention is not concernedspecifically with the type of tub since the apparatus is designed foruse in a wide variety of bathtub installations. The tub shown has aninterior wall 14 and an exterior apron or finishing wall 16 and a bottomwall 18, all as illustrated in FIG.1.

The panel generically designated by reference character 20 is made ofplastic or semi-flexible synthetic rubber material, or the like,sufficiently stiff to hold its form and sufficiently soft so that theuser will find it comfortable to sit upon, notwithstanding the ribswhich, in this embodiment, provide passages for air. The panel 20 shownin FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a top wall 22 and a bottom wall 24 made onthe same molds, the two walls being generally identical in form butassembled in relatively inverted positions. Each of these walls hasraised bosses 25, forming channels 26 which mate as shown in FIG. 3 toprovide support for the top wall from the bottom wall while providingair passages 28 which communicate around the ends of the channels and towhich air may be supplied from any appropriate source through a supplyline represented by an air supply hose 30 connected to the panel by aseparately fabricated coupling 32 cemented or otherwise fastened to topwall 22.

The air admitted to the passages 28 must be confined by means whichconnects the upper and lower walls 22 and 24. The connection may bepermanent or it may be readily releasable in order to enable theinterior surfaces to be cleaned. In the preferred arrangement shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, cement 33 connects the flanges 34 and 36 at the marginsof the upper and lower wall. The margins may conveniently be finished byembracing them in a channel 35 of rubber or plastic as best shown inFIG. 3. A variety of releasable connecting devices are also suitable,two difierent devices being illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the construction shown in FIG. 4, spring clips 38 are pivoted tofittings 40 connected with the lower wall 24, the clips being movablebetween the open position shown in dotted lines and the closed positionshown in full lines in FIG. 3. In the closed position, the clip holdsthe flange portion 34 of the upper wall tightly engaged with a seal 42disposed on the flange portion 36 of the lower wall. As many of theseclips are used as are required. In the construction shown in FIG. 5, theclip 380 is a channel pivoted at 381 to either of the walls for movementto and from the clamping position shown in full lines.

Regardless of the manner in which the upper and lower components 22 and24 are connected, the assembled walls confine air in the passages 28,the lateral surfaces of the upper wall 22 adjacent the depressed areas26 and flange 34 being provided at appropriate intervals with orifices44 through which the air can escape in the form of bubbles into thewater of the tub 8. These openings are preferably in the sides ratherthan the tops of the relatively broad bosses 25 upon which the user islying or seated.

It is frequently desirable to control the amount of turbulence producedin the water of the tub in which the panel is used. Instead of varyingthe rate of operation of the blower or using a variable shutoff valve inthe supply line as a means of varying the air pressure and the jettingeffect of the bubbles issuing from the orifices, it is desirable thatthe user have means at hand within the tub for such control.

FIG. 6 shows a desirable control arrangement operable from within thetub and usable with any embodiment of the invention. A slide valve 110is disposed beneath the top wall 22 to open and close port 112 throughwhich the hose fitting 32 communicates with the interior of the panel.As an example of one convenient means for guiding the slide valve, thevalve may have headed studs 114 guided in the slots 116 of the wall 22and one of these may serve as a handle for manipulating the slide tocause its port 118 to register to a greater or lesser degree (or not atall) with the port 112 through which the air is admitted. The heads ofthe studs 114 serve as handles in the manipulation of the valve. In thenormal use of the device, the slide valve 110 and the controls 114thereof are well below water level and the water tends, therefore, toseal the valve.

It will be observed that the upper and lower wall portions of the panelcan be made on a single mold or matrix to provide abutting surfaces andintervening channels which register when the wall elements areassembled, the arrangement being such that the resulting passages are infull communication with each other and with the air inlet. The flow ofair can readily be controlled by the user from within the tub and thedistribution of the air bubbles throughout the tub cannot be interferedwith by the disposition of the users body on the panel, the orificesbeing located in lateral surfaces below the level of the surfaces whichsupport the users weight.

Moreover, neither for the purpose of controlling the air or for thepurpose of terminating the treatment is it necessary for the user toleave the tub or to manipulate any external connection or expose himselfto the possibility of electrical shock.

The preferred air supply is a timer-controlled motor blower 50 in a case52 which contains a horizontal partition 54 above which is located thetimer control knob 56 (FIG. 7).

I claim: I

1. In a therapeutic appliance, a panel for bathtub usecomprising likeupper and lower wall portions adapted to be made on the same mold andassembled in mutually having complementary marginal flanges in abutmentand having complementary channels in abutment serving as invertedposition, the said upper and lower wall portions spacers, means forholding the margin flanges together, other areas of said wall portionsconstituting mutually spaced bosses providing air passages within thepanel between the abutting flanges and channels and constituting asystem of communicating passages within the panel, the surfaces of thebosses of the lower wall portion being adapted to rest upon the bottomof the tub in which the panel is used and the surfaces of the bosses ofthe upper wall portion serving to support the user, the upper wallportion having distributed air escape orifices, and one of said wallportions having a connection for the introduction of air into one ofsaid passages for escape through said orifices.

2. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 1 in which the saidorifices are located in the sides of the boss portions of the upperwall.

3. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 1 in which the upper andlower wall portion flanges are continuous about the margins of thepanel, and means for cementitiously connecting the flanges of the upperwall portions with those of the lower wall portion.

4. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 1 in which a channelcontinuous about said panel confines the flanges of the upper and lowerwall portions.

5. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 1 in which the upper andlower wall portions are freely separable for cleaning and are providedwith clip means for detachably connecting their abutting flanges.

6. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 1 in combination with airsupply means having a hose attached to the said connection for theintroduction of air, said supply means including a motor-blower having atimer for controlling its period of operation.

7. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 6 in which said air supplymeans comprises a case having a horizontal partition above its saidmotor blower, said timer having a control extending through saidpartition and the case including space above the partition for thestorage of said hose.

8. A therapeutic appliance for bathtub use comprising a panel havingupper and lower wall portions of like form in plan and cross section andassembled in mutually inverted positions, said wall portions havingcomplementary marginal flanges and means connecting said flanges, andfurther having complementary channels and intervening bosses, thechannels being in engagement and the bosses being spaced to forminterior passages and interconnected about the channels to constitute anair distributing system within the panel, and means for providing an airsupply connection to a passage of said system, the sides of the bossesof the upper wall portion having air escape apertures.

9. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 8 which includes meansimmediately adjacent the panel and in a position to be submerged in theuse of the panel for controlling the flow of air through said connectioninto the air distributing system of the panel.

10. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 9 in which said meanscomprises a slide valve disposed between the upper and lower wallportions of the panel and having relatively ported and unported areasselectively registrable with said air supply connection, the panelhaving means guiding said valve for reciprocation with respect to saidconnection.

11. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 9 in which the means forcontrolling flow comprises an escape port with which said air supplyconnection is provided adjacent the panel and a valve having meansmounting it for movement across said port and accessible to a user ofthe panel.

12. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 9 in which the upper andlower wall portions are separable for cleaning, one of said wallportions having a clip pivoted to a margin thereof and movable to andfrom connection with the margin of the other wall portion.

13. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 12 in further combinationwith means providing a seal between the margins of the separable wallportions.

14. A therapeutic appliance for bathtub use comprising a panel havingupper and lower wall portions in detachable connection and of identicalform in plan and cross section, said wall portions having complementaryoppositely convex channels oppositely engaged and forming passagesinterconnected in an air distributing pattern, means for providing anair supply connection to said passages, one of said wall portions havingair escape apertures, and means for the marginal connection of said wallportions.

15. An appliance according to claim 14 in which the means connecting thewall portions comprises clips.

16. An appliance according to claim 14 in further combination with meansfor providing a seal around said wall portions for retention of air insaid passages against substantial escape at points other than saidapertures.

17. An appliance according to claim 14 in which the air-introducingmeans comprises a fitting attached to one of said Wall members andhaving a hose connection, and said fitting has a lateral air escape portand an encircling valve ring movable across said port for varying thearea thereof which is open for the escape of air.

18. An appliance according to claim 14 in which one of said members hasa port through which the air-producing means communicates with the airpassages, means for supplying air through said port, and a slide valvehaving means guiding it for reciprocation with respect to the memberhaving the port, said valve including portions movable across the portfor varying the extent of the opening thereof and thereby varying theamount of air admitted to said passages to bubble from said ports.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,663,178 12/1953Schwartz. 2,793,640 5/1957 Schwartz 128-66 2,816,299 12/ 1957 Holladay93 10 10 RICHARD A, GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

8. A THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE OF BATHTUB USE COMPRISING A PANEL HAVINGUPPER AND LOWER WALL PORTIONS OF LIKE FORM IN PLAN AND CROSS SECTION ANDASSEMBLED IN MUTUALLY INVERTERD POSITIONS, SAID WALL PORTIONS HAVINGCOMPLEMENTARY MARGINAL FLANGES AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FLANGES, ANDFURTHER HAVING COMPLEMENTARY CHANNELS AND INTERVENING BOSSES, THECHANNELS BEING IN ENGAGEMENT AND THE BOSSES BEING SPACED TO FORMINTERIOR PASSAGES AND INTERCONNECTED ABOUT THE CHANNELS TO CONSTITUTE ANAIR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM WITHIN THE PANEL, AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN AIRSUPPLY CONNECTION OF A PASSAGE OF SAID SYSTEM, THE SIDES OF THE BOSSESOF THE UPPER WALL PORTION HAVING AIR ESCAPE APERTURES.